Improv Shop to feature UMSL chancellor as guest monologist at Touhill

UMSL Chancellor Tom George will be the guest monologist for the May 15 performance by The Improv Shop at the Touhill Center at UMSL. (Photo by August Jennewein)

The Improv Shop, featuring guest monologist Tom George, chancellor of the University of Missouri–St. Louis, will bring its improvisational comedy to UMSL. The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. May 15 at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.

Founded in 2009, The Improv Shop is St. Louis’ only long-form improvisational comedy training school and theater. This performance will feature the Armando format – Tom George will tell a personal tale about summer vacation, and the improv troupe will build a series of hysterical vignettes that interweave characters, plot, story and other details.

George is a community leader and fundraiser. As a professor of chemistry and physics at UMSL, he’s an internationally recognized as an active researcher specializing in chemical-materials-laser physics and nanoscience, including nanomedicine.

George is also an accomplished jazz pianist, who has performed extensively at venues throughout Missouri and Illinois, as well as universities in China, Hungary, Romania, Kuwait, Bosnia and Croatia.

The Improve Shop performance is for mature audiences. Tickets for the show are $10-$15 and can be purchased at the box office, online at touhill.org or by phone at 314-516-4949.